A blog entirely dedicated to Blancpain timepieces
Vintage watches
Only six months ago I introduced my vintage Bathyscaphe MC4 to you. I purchased the watch from Wind Vintage in Florida and had sent it to the Blancpain Vintage Workshop for authentication and a subsequent service. Now that little marvel returned home and it my utmost pleasure to share the results with you.
I already had the pleasure to feature two magnificent vintage Fifty Fathoms No Rad from fellow collectors in the blog, and now I would like to share a first glimpse on my recently bought Bathyscaphe MC 4 with you. Let’s take a closer look at this well worn second generation Bathyscaphe from the early 1960s and the first assessment by the Blancpain Heritage Workshop.
And here it is: the highly anticipated Act 3 of Blancpain‘s lineup of Fifty Fathoms novelties, celebrating the anniversary year. And there’s no way denying that it is a looker! Let’s get up close and personal with the Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 3 reference 5901-5630-NANA in a 41.3mm bronze gold case that leads us back to one of the many milestones in the unrivaled history of the iconic dive watch.
A friend and fellow enthusiast had the opportunity to establish a significant pair in his collection: his new Fifty Fathoms Tribute to No Rad 5008 was accompanied by its ancestor, the Fifty Fathoms No Rad RPGA1. Let’s take a closer look at these two beauties, on get together took place in late 2021, the second one just a few days ago. In between the FF RPGA1 enjoyed a full service in the Blancpain Vintage Atelier, so we will see a very interesting before and after comparison.
2023 will be the 70th anniversary of the world’s first professional dive watch, so in anticipation of what’s to come in only a few months I thought it might be a good idea to briefly summarize the first 69 years of an iconic watch and its major evolutionary steps. So let’s dive into the history of the Fifty Fathoms and get ourselves prepared for the upcoming anniversary.
A while ago a new member in a German watch forum asked the community about a watch he found to have belonged to his grandfather. What surfaced was a Fifty Fathoms RPG 1 from 1971 with box, papers and in working condition. Here’s how this amazing story continued…
Thanks to Blancpain having some vintage Fifty Fathoms traveling the world I recently had the chance to capture three exceptional timepieces individually and side by side with their modern interpretations. Let’s meet the Fifty Fathoms MILSPEC 1, the Fifty Fathoms RPGA 1 (No Radiations) and the Fifty Fathoms BUND 3H together with some of their descendants for a memorable photo session.
The oldest post in this blog has covered my first photo session with the Blancpain Tribute to Fifty Fathoms MilSpec reference 5008-1130, which took place in September 2017. Two months later I was lucky enough to add this special timepiece to my collection, and it has been an absolute favorite every since. Let’s take a look at some impressions over 30 months of happy ownership.
Yesterday Blancpain launched a new website that offers the opportunity to virtually visit the Manufacture in the Le Brassus and Le Sentier locations. For all those that until now had no chance to visit in person, this new feature provides in depth information and some very interesting insights. Let’s take a look.
Continue reading “Blancpain invites us to a virtual tour of Le Brassus and Le Sentier” →
In 2019 Blancpain has introduced three limited editions during Time to Move, with the Fifty Fathoms Nageurs de combat ref 5015E-1130-B52A maybe being a bit overshadowed by the Air Command and Fifty Fathoms Barakuda. But this very special Fifty Fathoms 5015 actually stands out as one of the most important watches Blancpain has introduced in the last years.
This Blancpain novelty left me speechless the moment I encountered it for the very first time in early May just prior to Time to Move. Now I had the chance to spend two days with the prototype Air Command and my first excitement about this exceptional timepiece has actually been deepened.
A significant part of Blancpain‘s collection are and have been sublime timepieces for women. Since the 1930s the Manufacture has put a lot of emphasis on not only crafting beautiful women’s watches but actually focused on innovation when it comes to those often very small and therefore challenging timepieces.
The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Barakuda was received enthusiastically when introduced earlier this year on May 17th. Now that delivery through the Blancpain Boutiques has started, let’s take a closer look at this beautiful timepiece.
Earlier today a limited to 100 pieces special edition of the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe for Hodinkee was introduced. Let’s take a look at this piece and let me share my initial thoughts about it.
Continue reading “The Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe for Hodinkee” →
I met KISS drummer and passionate watch collector Eric Singer* in Berlin on June 4, 2019 prior to his concert at the Waldbuehne and we had an hour long conversation, so you need to have some time reading through this. We were joined by an old friend of Eric and a representative of Blancpain who brought the prototypes of the new Air Command and Barakuda for Eric to see them. I hope you enjoy the conversation.
This is the second new Blancpain timepiece with historic roots, the colorful and extrovert Fifty Fathoms Barakuda ref 5008B-1130-B52A. Let’s take a closer look at this beauty, which continues the theme of limited editions in the 40,3mm Fifty Fathoms case.
Continue reading “The return of a famous dial (and watch): the Fifty Fathoms Barakuda” →
Many see the Fifty Fathoms Ref 5015 as the ultimate luxury dive watch, now this new limited version takes the reference back to its roots: I have the pleasure of showing you the limited to 300 pieces Fifty Fathoms “Nageurs de combat”, ref 5015E-1130-B52A.
Continue reading “Celebrating joint heritage… the Fifty Fathoms „Nageurs de combat“” →
Let’s get closer to what may very well be the superstar among the new Blancpain timepieces, the new Air Command ref AC01-1130-63A, a 42,5mm stainless steel no date aviation chronograph based on the iconic original from 1957.
Continue reading “A legend is reborn… the new Blancpain Air Command” →
As we are getting closer to learn about Blancpain‘s 2019 novelties (follow this blog to get the news first in around two weeks), let’s spend some time with a watch that was introduced last year, the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Jour Date 70‘s reference 5052.
Continue reading “A funky dive watch: the Bathyscaphe Jour Date 70‘s” →
In 2003 Blancpain celebrated the 50th anniversary of an horological icon, the Fifty Fathoms and therefore the first professional diving watch introduced 1953.
To commemorate this significant milestone Blancpain released the Fifty Fathoms 50th Anniversary reference 2200A-1130-71 in a limited run of 150 pieces, split into three series with 50 watches each for Asia, Europe and North America.
Continue reading “Flashback: the 2003 Fifty Fathoms 50th Anniversary” →
On my wishlist for further exploration, a visit to the Vintage Atelier at Blancpain in Le Brassus was very high up… and now I had the chance to meet with the team that takes care of all Blancpain timepieces prior to 1981.
An example of the original Fifty Fathoms divers watch manufactured in the early 1950’s.
(This watch was restored & photographed at Blancpain in their restoration workshop.)
Continue reading “Deconstruction Vintage Blancpain Fifty Fathoms by The Naked Watchmaker” →
The Rolls watch history is linked with Blancpain and the development of the automatic wristwatches. In the 1920s, Frédéric-Emile Blancpain met the British watchmaker, John Harwood, who had been working on the concept of automatic winding in wristwatches. The two worked together and used a Blancpain base movement to develop a circular automatic wristwatch in 1926. – In 1931 F.-E.Blancpain collaborated with the French watchmaker Léon Hatot, with another form of automatic winding system. Placing the movement inside a carriage allowing it to slide back and forth, winding up the mainspring. The size of the calibre meant that a small ladie’s rectangular watch could be made, which had not been available before. The name of the watch Rolls may have been influenced by the way in which the automatic functions. It has also been suggested that F.-E. Blancpain selected the name in connection with the Rolls Royce brand.
Continue reading “Deconstruction Rolls by The Naked Watchmaker” →
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